The state could be sending more money to some of Georgia's poorest school districts and less to more affluent districts under a recommendation heading to lawmakers and the governor.
The recommendation came Thursday from a state commission tasked with overhauling how Georgia funds k-12 education. If approved by lawmakers and the governor, about 9o school districts could get more money than they were expecting for the fiscal year that starts in July, and 43 could end up with less.
Commission members called it a necessary step, despite being painful for some.
“I understand the poor systems need the money, but some of the losers are losing a lot,” said Lee Lovett, the chief financial officer for Hall County Public Schools.
The move would affect the equalization grants the state uses to close the funding gaps between wealthy and poor schools.
Hall County, for example, would see its equalization grant fall from $6.2 million to $3 million.
Rep. Terry England, a commission member, said he knows there's good and bad for districts in the recommendation. "But I think the good far outweighs the bad because you're pushing the money to the systems less able to raise revenue through [property] taxes," he said.
Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, asked that the commission consider allowing the change to be phased in so school districts that are losing money could have time to prepare.
But England said "the possibility of trying to put a cushion in place is just not there."
About the Author
